First thing I remember knowin'Was a lonesome whistle blowin'And a youngun's dream of growin' up to rideOn a freight train leavin' town,Not knowin' where I's boundNo one could change my mind but mama tried

One and only rebel childIn a family meek and mild,Mama seemed to know what lay in storeIn spite of all my Sunday learnin',For the bad I kept on turnin'Mama couldn't hold me anymore

[Chorus:]And I turned twenty one in prisonDoin' life without paroleNo one could steer me rightBut mama tried, mama tried,Mama tried to raise me betterBut her pleadin' I denied,That leaves only me to blame 'cause mama tried

Dear old daddy, rest his soul,Left my mom a heavy loadShe tried so very hard to fill his shoesWorkin' hours without rest,Wanted me to have the best,She tried to raise me right but I refused